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Apocalypto
2006 138 min United Kingdom, United States of America R 16+
★7.9
Action, Drama, History
Director: Mel Gibson
Trailers
Description
Set in the Mayan civilization, when a man's idyllic presence is brutally disrupted by a violent invading force, he is taken on a perilous journey to a world ruled by fear and oppression where a harrowing end awaits him. Through a twist of fate and spurred by the power of his love for his woman and his family he will make a desperate break to return home and to ultimately save his way of life.
Budget:
$40M
US Gross:
$50.87M
Worldwide:
$120.65M
Starring
Gerardo Taracena
Actor
Raoul Max Trujillo
Actor
Dalia Hernández
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 2007
— Best Sound
BAFTA 2007
— Best International Feature Film
Academy Awards 2007
— Best Sound Editing
Saturn Awards 2007
— Best Director
Saturn Awards 2007
— Best International Feature Film
Golden Eagle 2008
— Best International Feature Film
Golden Globe 2007
— Best International Feature Film
Academy Awards 2007
— Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Key opinion
Apocalypto is widely praised as a visceral and immersive adventure that thrives on its raw, kinetic direction and authentic atmosphere. While critics and audiences largely admire the technical spectacle and emotional intensity, opinions diverge significantly regarding the film's historical legitimacy and the depth of its narrative themes.
| Production | The use of the indigenous Mayan language, combined with meticulous period-accurate costuming and makeup, creates a profound sense of historical immersion. | |
| Acting | The cast delivers raw and naturalistic performances that ground the film's intense, high-stakes action in genuine human vulnerability. | |
| Direction | Gibson’s direction utilizes a relentless, energetic visual style that successfully prioritizes visceral tension and spectacle over dialogue. | |
| Adaptation | The film’s historical accuracy is a major point of contention; some viewers value the authentic aesthetic, while others criticize the depiction of the Mayan civilization as inaccurate and reductive. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative is polarizing: some appreciate its simple, lean, and efficient structure, while others find the plot to be clichéd and lacking in complex thematic substance. |